Secondary Battery Module

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a secondary battery module. A secondary battery module includes a plurality of battery cells; and a first frame configured to accommodate and cool the plurality of battery cells, wherein the first frame includes: a housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells; and at least one cooling plate coupled to one surface of the housing, interposed between groups of one or more battery cells among the plurality of battery cells disposed in the housing, and configured to fix the plurality of battery cells and dissipate heat generated from the plurality of battery cells.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/852,447, filed Dec. 22, 2017, and claims priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2016-0177899 filed Dec. 23, 2016, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a secondary batterymodule.

Description of Related Art

Secondary batteries, which can be charged and discharged, are currentlybeing studied due to development in cutting-edge fields such as digitalcameras, cellular phones, notebooks, and hybrid vehicles. Secondarybatteries may include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydridebatteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, and lithium secondary batteries.Among the above-described batteries, lithium secondary batteries areused as power sources in portable electronic devices at an operatingvoltage of 3.6 V or more, or used in high-output hybrid vehicles byconnecting a plurality of the batteries in series, and since the lithiumsecondary batteries have an operating voltage three times higher andexcellent energy density per unit weight compared to nickel-cadmiumbatteries or nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium secondary batteriesare being rapidly used.

A conventional secondary battery module includes battery cells 1, acooling plate 2, and auxiliary structures which are partitions 3, acover, and the like for fixing and protecting a secondary battery. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, in the conventional secondary battery module, thecooling plate 2 is interposed between the adjacent battery cells 1, andthe partitions 3 are disposed to fix the battery cells 1. The secondarybattery module is formed by repeatedly forming the above structure, andsince the partitions 3 and the like are disposed at the battery cells 1,a volume of the module increases and the number of components increases.Since the conventional secondary battery module has many structures suchas a fixing structure and a protection structure, a workload and avolume thereof increase. Accordingly, the weight and bulk density of thesecondary battery module have increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to a secondary battery module inwhich the number of components is minimized by integrating coolingplates and a housing.

In addition, the present disclosure is directed to a secondary batterymodule in which cost is minimized by decreasing the number of assemblyprocesses.

In addition, the present disclosure is directed to a secondary batterymodule in which positions of battery cells are fixed by locatingsupports on inner surfaces of bus bars without partitions for fixing thebattery cells.

In addition, the present disclosure is directed to a secondary batterymodule in which the numbers of components and assembly processes maydecrease by integrating bus bars and supports for fixing battery cellswithout additional partitions for fixing the battery cells.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided asecondary battery module including: a plurality of battery cells, and afirst frame configured to accommodate and cool the plurality of batterycells, wherein the first frame includes: a housing configured toaccommodate the plurality of battery cells; and at least one coolingplate coupled to one surface of the housing, disposed after every one ormore battery cells among the plurality of battery cells disposed in thehousing, and configured to fix the plurality of battery cells anddissipate heat generated from the plurality of battery cells.

The housing and the cooling plate may be integrated to form the firstframe.

A convex portion may be formed on one of the housing and the coolingplate, a concave portion is formed in the other thereof, and the convexportion and the concave portion may be assembled to couple the housingand the cooling plate.

The cooling plate may be formed of a thermally conductive materialconfigured to dissipate heat generated from the battery cells.

The housing may be formed of a thermally conductive material configuredto dissipate heat generated from the battery cells.

The cooling plate may be interposed between groups of two battery cellsamong the plurality of stacked battery cells and configured to be incontact with one side surface of each of the battery cells which aredisposed at both sides of the cooling plate.

The cooling plate may be disposed after every third battery cell amongthe plurality of battery cells.

The housing may cover at least three surfaces among surfaces of theplurality of stacked battery cells from which electrode tabs are notwithdrawn.

The housing may cover: outer surface of each battery cell located atboth ends among the stacked plurality of battery cells; and one surfaceof upper and lower surfaces of the plurality of stacked battery cells.

The secondary battery module may further include a second frameconfigured to connect electrode tabs of the plurality of battery cellsand fix the battery cells.

The second frame may include a bus bar interposed between electrode tabsof two battery cells adjacent to each other among the plurality ofbattery cells and configured to be in contact with the electrode tabs ofthe two battery cells adjacent to each other, and a support partconfigured to be in contact with the bus bar and fix positions of thetwo battery cells adjacent to each other.

The bus bar maybe formed in a bent plate shape and outer surfaces ofside portions of the bus bar facing each other may be in contact withthe electrode tabs of two battery cells adjacent to each other.

The support part may be interposed between the electrode tabs of the twobattery cells adjacent to each other and configured to be in contactwith an inner surface of the bus bar.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda secondary battery cooling frame including: a housing configured toaccommodate a plurality of battery cells; and at least one cooling plateassembled on one surface of the housing, interposed between groups of atleast one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells disposed inthe housing, configured to fix the plurality of battery cells anddissipate heat generated from the plurality of battery cells, wherein aconvex portion is formed on one of the housing and the cooling plate, aconcave portion is formed in the other thereof, the convex portion andthe concave portion are assembled, and the housing is coupled to thecooling plate to accommodate and cool the plurality of stacked batterycells.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a secondary battery cooling frame including: a housingconfigured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells; and at least onecooling plate integrated with one surface of the housing, interposedbetween groups of at least one battery cell among the plurality ofbattery, and configured to fix the plurality of battery cells anddissipate heat generated from the plurality of battery cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conventional secondary battery;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a first frame according to one embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a first frame according to one embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating secondary batteries disposed inthe first frame according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a second frame disposed in thesecondary battery according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a secondary battery module including thefirst frame and the second frames according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view illustrating the secondary battery moduleincluding the first frame and the second frames according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, theembodiments are only examples and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In descriptions of the disclosure, when it is determined that detaileddescriptions of related well-known technology unnecessarily obscure thegist of the disclosure, the detailed descriptions will be omitted. Termsdescribed below are defined by considering functions in the disclosureand meanings may vary depending on, for example, a user or operator'sintentions or customs. Therefore, the meanings of the terms should beinterpreted based on the scope throughout this specification.

The technological spirit of the present disclosure is defined by theappended claims, and the following embodiments are only made toefficiently describe the technological spirit of the disclosure to thoseskilled in the art.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views illustrating a first frame according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is the view illustrating a housing 11 and cooling plates 12 whichare formed through an assembly method and the housing 11 and the coolingplates 12 are coupled through assembly, and FIG. 3 is a viewillustrating a housing 11 and cooling plates 12 which are integrallyformed.

Referring to FIG. 2, a secondary battery module according to theembodiment of the present disclosure may include a first frame 10capable of accommodating and cooling secondary batteries 20 includingbattery cells 21 and electrode tabs 22. The first frame 10 may includethe housing 11 and the cooling plates 12. The housing 11 and the coolingplates 12 may be assembled to be the first frame 10. However, theforming of the first frame 10 is not limited to assembling the housing11 and the cooling plates 12, and the first frame 10 may be formed byintegrating the housing 11 and the cooling plates 12 as illustrated inFIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, convex portions 121 and concave portions 111may be formed and assembled to couple the cooling plates 12 and thehousing 11 in the case in which the cooling plates 12 are assembled onthe housing 11. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the case in which thehousing 11 and the cooling plates 12 are integrally formed, the housing11 and the cooling plates 12 may be formed by an injection moldingprocess. The housing 11 and the cooling plates 12 may be integrallyformed in a manufacturing process thereof.

The battery cells 21 may be accommodated in the housing 11. A pluralityof battery cells 21 may be stacked and disposed in the housing 11. Thehousing 11 may serve as a cover configured to support and protect theplurality of stacked battery cells 21.

The housing 11 may cover at least three surfaces among surfaces of theplurality of stacked battery cells 21 from which the electrode tabs 22are not withdrawn from the battery cells 21. For example, the housing 11may cover a lower side of each of the plurality of stacked battery cells21 (that is, one of both sides of the battery cell 21 provided in adirection perpendicular to a direction in which the battery cells 21 arestacked) and both sides of the plurality of stacked battery cells 21(that is, outer sides of both outermost battery cells 21 among theplurality of stacked battery cells 21). Hereinafter, the housing will bedescribed as covering the lower sides and both sides of the batterycells 21, but is not limited thereto, and the housing 11 may cover uppersides and both sides thereof. The housing 11 may be formed to have astructure configured to cover three side surfaces of the stacked batterycells 21 and support and protect the stacked battery cells 21.

In addition, the housing 11 may be formed of a cooling plate. Thehousing 11 formed of the cooling plate may dissipate heat generated bythe battery cells 21. Accordingly, the housing 11 may simultaneouslysupport and cool the stacked battery cells 21. When the housing 11 isformed of the cooling plate, the housing 11 may be formed of a thermallyconductive material which dissipates heat generated by the battery cells21. For example, the housing 11 may be formed of aluminum.

A plurality of cooling plates 12 may be coupled to one inner surface ofthe housing 11 in which the battery cells 21 are accommodated.

The cooling plates 12 may be assembled on or integrated with one innersurface of the housing 11 in which the battery cells 21 areaccommodated. Each of the cooling plates 12 may be interposed betweenside surfaces of battery cells 21 adjacent to the cooling plate in adirection in which the battery cells 21 are stacked. The cooling plate12 may be positioned between groups of at least one battery cell 21among the plurality of stacked battery cells 21 and configured to be incontact with one side surface of the battery cells 21 which are disposedat both sides of the cooling plate 12.

The cooling plates 12 may be formed of a thermally conductive materialwhich dissipates heat generated by the battery cells 21. For example,the cooling plates 12 may be formed of aluminum.

A length of the cooling plate 12 is less than a length between both sidesurfaces of the housing 11, and thus the electrode tabs 22 of theplurality of battery cells 21 disposed in the housing 11 may beconnected to each other.

In the secondary battery module according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the housing 11 and the cooling plates 12 which areassembled or integrated in a manufacturing process thereof may fix orsupport the battery cells 21 and cool the battery cell 21. In the casein which the housing 11 is formed of a cooling plate, the housing 11 maycool the battery cells 21 from the lower or upper side of the batterycells 21, and the cooling plates 12 may cool side surfaces of thebattery cells 21.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, at least one of the housing 11and the cooling plates 12 may include a cooling path through whichcooling water flows or a heat sink plate for cooling with air.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating secondary batteries disposed inthe first frame according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, the plurality of battery cells 21 may be stackedand disposed in the housing 11, and the cooling plates 12 may bepositioned between the stacked battery cells 21. The cooling plates 12interposed between the battery cells 21 may be coupled to the housing11.

The plurality of cooling plates 12 may be coupled to the housing 11according to predetermined distances between the plurality of coolingplates 12. The battery cells 21 may be disposed according to thepredetermined distances. Accordingly, the predetermined distances may bedetermined on the basis of the number of the battery cells 21. Forexample, the cooling plate 12 may be interposed between groups of atleast one battery cells 21 among the plurality of stacked battery cells21. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the cooling plate 12 may beinterposed between groups of three battery cells 21.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, in the case in whichthe housing 11 and the cooling plates 12 are coupled through assembly,the convex portions 121 may be formed on one of the housing 11 and thecooling plates 12 and the concave portions 111 may be formed in theother thereof to assemble the cooling plates 12 to the housing 11. Forexample, the housing 11 may include concave portions 111 and the coolingplates 12 may include the. the convex portions 121. A partially explodedview of the FIG. 4 shows each of the convex portions 121 and each of thecorresponding concave portions 111. The convex portion 121 and theconcave portion 111 may be formed to correspond to each other.Accordingly, the concave portion 111 may be fixedly coupled to theconvex portion 121. However, the housing 11 is not limited to includingthe concave portions 111 and the cooling plates 12 are not limited toincluding convex portions 121. The convex portions 121 may also beformed in the housing 11 and the concave portions 111 may be formed onthe cooling plates 12. The concave portions 111 may be formed in thehousing 11 at positions corresponding to the cooling plates 12. Thehousing 11 and the cooling plates 12 may be assembled and coupled by theconvex portions 121 and the concave portions 111.

The cooling plates 12 coupled to the housing 11 may simultaneously cooland fix the battery cell 21. Accordingly, even though additionalpartitions are not provided in the first frame 10, the battery cells 21may be fixed by the housing 11 and the cooling plates 12.

The first frame 10, in which the cooling plates 12 are coupled to thehousing 11 or the housing 11 is integrated with the cooling plate 12,may fix and cool the battery cells 21. Since the first frame 10 maysimultaneously perform functions of fixing and cooling the battery cell21, there is an effect in that the number of components and processesdecrease. Accordingly, a manufacturing cost of the secondary battery maydecrease.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a second frame disposed in thesecondary battery according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, adjacent battery cells 21 among the plurality ofstacked battery cells 21 may be electrically connected by second frames30. Each of the second frames 30 may electrically connect the adjacentbattery cells 21 and the second frames 30 may fix the battery cells 21.The second frames 30 may include bus bars 31 and supports part 32.

Each of the bus bars 31 may be in contact with the electrode tabs 22 ofthe adjacent battery cells 21 and may electrically connect the adjacentbattery cells 21. The bus bar 31 may be interposed between the electrodetabs 22 of the adjacent battery cells 21 among the plurality of batterycells 21, and may be in contact with each of the electrode tabs 22. Thebus bar 31 may be formed in a “

” shape to be in contact with and electrically connect the adjacentelectrode tabs 22. The electrode tabs 22 of the adjacent battery cells21 may be in contact with outer surfaces of side portions of the bus bar31, which face the electrode tabs 22.

Each of the supports part 32 for fixing the battery cells 21 may beinserted into an inner surface of the bus bar 31.

The support part 32 may be fixedly inserted into the bus bar 31 and mayfix a position of the battery cell 21. The support part 32 may beinterposed between the adjacent electrode tabs 22 and be in contact withthe inner surface of the bus bar 31. The support part 32 may be formedto have a thickness allowing the support part 32 to be fixedly insertedinto the inner surface of the bus bar 31. In a state in which thesupport part 32 is fixedly inserted into the bus bar 31, the supportpart 32 may be fixedly in contact with the battery cell 21.

The second frame 30 has a structure in which the bus bar 31 configuredto electrically connect the adjacent battery cells 21 and the supportpart 32 configured to fix the battery cells 21 are coupled. The secondframe 30 has the structure in which the bus bar 31 configured toelectrically connect the battery cells 21 is coupled to the support part32 configured to fix the battery cells 21. Accordingly, additionalpartitions for fixing the battery cells do not have to be used, thenumber of components may be minimized, and thus the number of assemblyprocesses may be decreased. Accordingly, a manufacturing cost of thesecondary battery may be decreased.

In addition, the second frame 30 may be further provided with aprotective member at a side opposite a side at which the second frame 30is in contact with the electrode tab 22. Accordingly, the second frame30 may also serve as a protective member configured to protect thesecondary battery module.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a secondary battery module including thefirst frame and the second frames according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, the plurality of stacked battery cells 21 may bedisposed in the housing 11, and the cooling plate 12 may be positionedbetween groups of three battery cells 21. The first frame 10 includingthe housing 11 and the cooling plates 12 may fix and cool the batterycells 21.

In addition, the second frame 30 may be disposed at both sides of thebattery cell 21 from which the electrode tabs 22 are withdrawn. The busbar 31 may be interposed between the electrode tabs 22 of the adjacentbattery cells 21, and the support part 32 fixedly inserted into theinner surface of the bus bar may be fixedly in contact with the batterycell 21. Here, the electrode tabs 22 located at the same side of theboth sides of the battery cells 21 may have the same polarity (apositive or negative electrode). Accordingly, the battery cells 21 maybe connected in parallel by the bus bars 31.

The first frame 10 may fix the battery cells 21 at positions in adirection in which the battery cells 21 are stacked, and the secondframes 30 may fix the battery cells 21 at both sides from which theelectrode tabs 22 are withdrawn. Accordingly, the battery cells 21 maybe fixed by the first frame 10 and the second frames 30 withoutadditional partitions.

When the secondary batteries 20, the first frame 10, and the secondframes 30 are coupled, the cooling plates 12 may be fixed to thesupports part 32. Accordingly, grooves (not shown) may be formed in thesupports part 32 corresponding to positions, in which the cooling plates12 are disposed, in order to match thicknesses of the cooling plates 12so that the cooling plates 12 may be fixed. The cooling plates 12 may beinserted into the grooves formed in the supports part 32 and the coolingplate 12 may be additionally fixed.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view illustrating the secondary battery moduleincluding the first frame and the second frames according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7, the plurality of secondary batteries 20 may bestacked in the first frame 10 including the cooling plates 12 in thehousing 11.

After the secondary batteries 20 are disposed in the first frame 10, thesecond frames 30 may be coupled to the secondary batteries 20. The firstframe 10 may cover the lower sides of the secondary batteries 20 andboth sides thereof from which the electrode tabs 22 are not withdrawn.The second frames 30 may be disposed at sides of the secondary batteries20 from which the electrode tabs 22 of the secondary batteries 20 arewithdrawn. The second frames 30 may electrically connect the batterycells 21 and fix the positions of the battery cells 21.

After the second frames 30 are coupled to the secondary batteries 20, acover 13 may be disposed above the secondary batteries 20. In addition,an additional protective member may be disposed on outer surfaces of thesecond frames 30 and protect the secondary battery module according toone embodiment of the present disclosure. The secondary battery moduleaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure is not be limitedto the first frame 10, the secondary batteries 20, and the second frames30, and may include additional components.

As described above, a secondary battery module which can minimize thenumber of components by integrating cooling plates and a housing of thesecondary battery can be provided.

In addition, a secondary battery module can be provided in which costcan be decreased by decreasing the number assembly processes thereof.

In addition, a secondary battery module can be provided in whichpositions of battery cells can be fixed by positioning supports on innersurfaces of bus bars without partitions for fixing the battery cell.

In addition, a secondary battery module can be provided in which thenumbers of components and assembly processes can be decreased byintegrating bus bars and supports for fixing battery cells withoutadditional partitions for fixing the battery cells.

While the representative embodiments of the preset disclosure have beendescribed above in detail, it may be understood by those skilled in theart that the embodiments may be variously modified without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of thepresent disclosure is defined not by the described embodiment but by theappended claims, and encompasses equivalents that fall within the scopeof the appended claims.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10: FIRST FRAME-   11: HOUSING-   111: CONCAVE PORTION-   12: COOLING PLATE-   121: CONVEX PORTION-   13: COVER-   20: SECONDARY BATTERY-   21: BATTERY CELL-   22: ELECTRODE TAB-   30: SECOND FRAME-   31: BUS BAR-   32: SUPPORT PART

What is claimed is:
 1. A secondary battery cooling frame comprising: ahousing having a lower portion covering a lower portion of a pluralityof battery cells and a pair of side portions integrally formed on thelower portion to cover an outer side of an outermost battery cell amongthe plurality of battery cells, the housing including a space formedbetween the pair of side portions for accommodating the plurality ofbattery cells adjacent the lower portion and the pair of side portions;and at least one plate disposed in between groups of at least twobattery cells of the plurality of battery cells in the space formedbetween the pair of side portions and to support the plurality ofbattery cells, wherein the at least one plate is separably coupled tothe lower portion of the housing to partition the space formed betweenthe pair of side portions into at least two spaces.
 2. The secondarybattery cooling frame of claim 1, wherein the housing and the at leastone plate are integrally formed.
 3. The secondary battery cooling frameof claim 1, wherein the housing covers: an outer surface of each batterycell located at both ends among the plurality of battery cells; and onesurface of upper and lower surfaces of the plurality of battery cells.4. The secondary battery cooling frame of claim 1, further comprising: asecond frame configured to connect electrode tabs of the plurality ofbattery cells and fix the battery cells, wherein the second frameincludes: a bus bar interposed between electrode tabs of battery cellsadjacent to each other among the plurality of battery cells andconfigured to be in contact with the electrode tabs of the battery cellsadjacent to each other, wherein outer surfaces of side portions of thebus bar facing each other are in contact with the same electrode tab ofa battery cell.
 5. The secondary battery cooling frame of claim 4,wherein: the bus bar is formed in a bent plate shape.
 6. The secondarybattery cooling frame of claim 4, wherein the second frame includes: asupport part configured to be in contact with the bus bar and fixpositions of the two battery cells adjacent to each other; and whereinthe support part is interposed between the electrode tabs of the twobattery cells adjacent to each other and configured to be in contactwith an inner surface of the bus bar.
 7. The secondary battery coolingframe of claim 6, wherein the second frame is disposed at both sides ofeach battery cell of the plurality of battery cells from which electrodetabs of each battery cell are withdrawn, wherein the bus bar isinterposed between electrode tabs of the two battery cells adjacent toeach other and the support part is fixedly inserted into an innersurface of the bus bar and is fixedly in contact with each battery cellof the two battery cells adjacent to each other, and wherein electrodetabs of adjacent battery cells have the same polarity such that the twobattery cells adjacent to each other are connected in parallel by thebus bar.